Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

[alldodge]

Running a standard Bravo 3 @ 2.0 ratio behind a 502 cuin 415 HP in my Formula. According to what I've found the standard B3 can handle 400 HP. Had the drive gone through 4-years ago because it was make more whine then I was use to when idling. Rebuilder (Certifed Merc tech with his own shop) found nothing out of tolerance. My previous B3 never made the noise and I still have it, but it is old style with added piece on the rear (B1 with a tail) for B3. At the end of last season found a bit of foreign matter in the lower section of the drive, found nothing in the top. Material was showing the slightest bit of gray in the lube and could see very fine particles a metallic substance. Drained the lube for 3 days and then refilled.

Pulled the plugs this season and found the same similar issue with slight gray in the bottom and green/black in the top. My rebuilder is gone and therefore I'll be taking it to someone else so hence the question.

Is it to much HP for the drive or most likely something else?

 

[thumpar]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

I think it should be able to handle it. If you are worried that it can't and that is what is tearing up the drive you could switch to a Bravo I.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

I've got a 2000 B3 with the same ratio as yours and just yesterday I drained my lube with the drive all the way up/out and saw only the green/blue lube come out; no grey nor any water.

Then pulled the drive and brought it home to store it in the garage for awhile on the stand I made and when I pulled the plugs again with the drive now completely vertical, I also now saw some grey lube along with the blue/green.

Not quite sure why the grey lube came out only when the drive was straight up and down; maybe someone else will know.

I also do not think you will have an issue just because you have 415 hp.

Mark

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

When I pulled the plugs again with the drive now completely vertical, I also now saw some grey lube along with the blue/green.

Still have the oil? Maybe if you have some extra time, you could run it by Rob at QPM and get a second opinion.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

Bravo 3's do have a slight tendency to be a bit noisier than bravo 1's mainly due to the extra moving internal parts inside the lower unit, the weight of the lower unit along with heavier propellers and such.

While you are nearing the upper end of the horsepower range the bravo drives can handle, Unfortunately it is sometimes not all that uncommon for a bigger, heavier, higher performing boat like your 27 Formula to put an extra continuous strain on the gears, bearings, shafts and so on just enough to add some extra metal flakes on the magnets and in some cases leave some flakes floating in the oil as well.

Now you could always pull off the top cover and back cap of the upper unit and have a look to see if anything seems to be in bad shape. Also pulling the lower unit bearing carrier to see if anything looks unusual may help as well just to be sure. Pulling the lower unit bearing carrier while the drive is on the boat is not all that difficult to do if you have the proper tools.

Bravo XR - how to read the magnets?

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

What brand and type lubricant are you using in the drive? The slightly different properties of different brands and weights will affect the wear of the internals. I suggest you put the top cap off to check inside. If all looks OK, then try flushing the entire system, including the reservoir and replacing the lubricant with the exact Mercruiser lubricant recommended for your drive. Hy

 

[alldodge]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

Mark, Fun appreciate the feedback. Also got a response from OSO and it is leaning me to be normal only issue is it really doesn't have but around 150 to 200 hours tops. The drive was a customer pull off because try were hearing things. When received it still had the bar code labels on it. My other B3 has the added tail on it but never made any noise and it has 350 hours on it. I could start taking the drive apart but figure I would just as soon let a pro do it, only issue is finding a pro where I'm at. No longer live in Louisville so finding one means taking a drive. One of these days maybe I'll do it also, seem to do everything else my self.

If all else fails maybe find a Bravo 3X, would have a bit more noise due to square gear cut. Good part I only hear it when idling and before I open up the exhaust

 

[alldodge]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

What brand and type lubricant are you using in the drive? The slightly different properties of different brands and weights will affect the wear of the internals. I suggest you put the top cap off to check inside. If all looks OK, then try flushing the entire system, including the reservoir and replacing the lubricant with the exact Mercruiser lubricant recommended for your drive. Hy

Have always used Merc HP gear lube. May decide to try Bondo's method and use Mobile 1 or maybe AMSOIL gear lube. Use these 2 types in everything else I have except the boats so far.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

The older B3 may have the old style cone clutch and I bet that is what's wearing and making the gray sludge. You can extend the life of the drive by flipping the cone clutch and the upper and lower gears over so that the reverse gear/clutch is now the forward and the forward gear/clutch is now the reverse. Odds are good your reverse clutch has very little wear. You can wait until it starts slipping in forward, then flip the gears and clutch, but you'll need to roughen up the worn clutch mating surface on the slipping gear with emery cloth to get it to engage again.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

The older B3 may have the old style cone clutch and I bet that is what's wearing and making the gray sludge. You can extend the life of the drive by flipping the cone clutch and the upper and lower gears over so that the reverse gear/clutch is now the forward and the forward gear/clutch is now the reverse. Odds are good your reverse clutch has very little wear. You can wait until it starts slipping in forward, then flip the gears and clutch, but you'll need to roughen up the worn clutch mating surface on the slipping gear with emery cloth to get it to engage again.

Thanks but, This is the new style B3, I also have an old style but took it off to put this one on. The old style never gave me any trouble except the added fin kept coming loose. So I change to the new style and heard the slight whine and the rest is in previous post.

Will keep you thought in mind when I take it to a shop to have it looked at.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

Thanks but, This is the new style B3, I also have an old style but took it off to put this one on. The old style never gave me any trouble except the added fin kept coming loose. So I change to the new style and heard the slight whine and the rest is in previous post.

Will keep you thought in mind when I take it to a shop to have it looked at.

Oh, sorry. Misread...

 

[alldodge]

Re: Standard Bravo 3 showing wear

Update and solution:
The noise I was hearing was from the top needle bearing being damaged. Appears the guy I always trusted to work on the drive either didn't do the work and charged me anyway, or he put it together wrong. In the link below the bearing (item 19) was installed next to the housing (item 12), and then the thrust, bearing (item 17, which I would call the race), instead of the other way. It was just chewing it self up

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_Pictures3.asp?dnbr=809808 96&ivar=images/COMMON/18721.png&inbr=1943&bnbr=190&bdesc=DRIVESHAFT+HOUSING+AND+DRIVE+GEARS%28GASOLINE+ENGINE%29